Vacuum circuit interrupter with high voltage switch compartment and low voltage operating mechanism compartment separated by a grounded metallic partition

ABSTRACT

A circuit interrupter of the vacuum type is adapted for reclosing operations and is utilized with a novel operating mechanism of simplified and easily accessible construction. The location of the vacuum interrupters in the high voltage compartment is remote from the operating mechanism and static control disposed in the low voltage compartment. The operating mechanism is of a simplified and of a low-cost construction incorporating a pair of supporting plates. The mounting of the reclosing mechanism and location of the main drive shaft results in an accessible and ultrasafe piece of interrupting equipment.



1. A circuit interrupter including metallic housing means defining a high voltage compartment, a plurality of pairs of terminal bushings extending downwardly into said high voltage compartment and supported by the upper cover thereof, a lower disposed metallic low voltage compartment enclosing a cooperating operating mechanism, interrupting means disposed in said upper disposed high voltage compartment and electrically connected to the lower ends of the pairs of terminal bushings, a grounded metallic partition plate interposed between the high and low voltage compartments, and linkage means interconnecting the cooperating operating mechanism with the several interrupting means.
 2. The circuit interrupter combination of claim 1, wherein the grounded metallic partition plate has openings provided therein, and the linkage means extending through said openings to actuate the individual interrupting means.
 3. The circuit interrupter combination of claim 2, wherein a contact spring assembly is provided for each interrupting means, said contact spring assembly including an insulating operating rod, and the region above the openings in the partition plate having only the insulating portion of the insulating operating rods extending thereabove.
 4. The circuit interrupter combination of claim 1, wherein a longitudinally extending rotatable main operating shaft is provided rotatably mounted below the partition plate, and the linkage means is connected to said main operating shaft so that the several operating means are operated simultaneously.
 5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein the longitudinally extending rotatable main operating shaft is disposed at the rear end of the low voltage compartment.
 6. A circuit interrupter according to claim 1, including, quick-opening operating mechanism for a circuit interrupter having pair of spaced metallic side support plates, a main operating lever pivotally supported upon a pivot pin journaled in said two spaced metallic side support plates, means defining a closing toggle, means defining a releasable latch lever pivotally supported on the side support plates, the closing toggle comprising two pivotally connected toggle links and pivotally mounted to the main operating lever and also to the latch lever, a closing link connected to the knee pin of the closing toggle and picked up during the closing operation by a motor-operated closing crank arm, and a toggle-operated latch lever for at times under no tripping condition stationarily holding the releasable latch lever.
 7. The operating mechanism combination of claim 6 wherein at least one T-shaped metallic support block spaces the sideplates and is adaptable for mounting to a stationary support.
 8. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the pair of metallic side support plates is disposed vertically
 9. The combination according to claim 7, wherein two such T-shaped metallic support blocks are employed at the upper ends of the two side metallic support plates. 